October 17, 2024
Hi there Slow Down Society, and Happy Friday Eve!!
You know those days when things just feel off? Even when life looks pretty good on paper—maybe you’ve got a great marriage, the kids are doing well, work’s manageable—but still, you find yourself in a funk.
It happens to the best of us. You’re not alone, and more importantly, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with you.
I’m not about to tell you that all you need is to “be grateful” or “think positive” to fix things. Some days just feel tough, and pushing yourself to be relentlessly happy isn’t always the answer.
What is helpful, though, is having a plan for those days. When you’re prepared, it’s easier to find your way back to center without falling into habits you might regret later.
Here’s my suggestion:
Create a go-to list of things that you pre-approve to help get through those “funky” days. That way, when the “suckies” hit, you won’t be scrambling for ways to feel better or end up self-soothing in a way that makes things worse (looking at you, stress-eating or Netflix marathons that go on too long).
Some ideas that work for me?
- Throw on some music that lifts your spirits. For me, it’s always 80s hair bands.
- Get outside and move. Whether it’s a walk around the block or pulling weeds in the garden, just changing your environment can shift your mindset.
- Need something calming? Search for binaural beats on YouTube to help rebalance your mood.
And sometimes, it’s perfectly okay to Proactively be Unproductive. Yep, it’s a thing. If that means taking the night off to veg out, do it without guilt. We all need a little reset from time to time.
You are still the amazing, wonderful person I know you are, even on the tough days.
Takeaways:
- Plan Ahead: Create a list of pre-approved activities for your “off” days, so you’re ready when they come.
- Shift Your Environment: Music, movement, or just a change of scenery can be powerful mood boosters.
- Allow Rest: Give yourself permission to be unproductive when needed. Rest is productive, too.
As always, I’m here if you want to chat. Lots of love,
and please take care.
xoxo steph
“Let me begin by saying that I am the proud owner of 4 of Stephanie O’Dea’s books, so I’m definitely familiar with this wonderful lady. She has taken the art of cooking in slow cookers to another level. What’s the next step? Living it, of course.
We use slow cookers so that we can buzz around and get so many other things done instead of having to stand in the kitchen and cook, right? Did it ever dawn on us to just be like the slow cookers and just slow down?
Not me. Not until now.
This is not your average self help book. I’ve read a lot of them too. Steph is so relatable, so real, it’s like you’re just reading a letter from a friend. She shares things that you’d want to hear from your bestie.
“Don’t pretend to be something that you’re not. The advice of “fake it until you make it” will inevitably backfire because your brain will know that you are lying, and you’ll be going against your natural instincts. Instead, honor your feelings of insecurity and try to learn and get better as you move forward.”
See what I mean? This book is rich with gentle words to help you learn how to slow the hustle that you might be getting tired of and introduce you into new practices that, when applied, really work.
I definitely read this at the right time in my life too. I could say I wish I’d read it before now, but all of the things that led up to now are all for a reason. That goes for you too. If you feel like you’ve been doing too much, that you’re at or reached your limit, you need to slow down and this book will gently guide you there. But just remember, tools don’t work unless you use them. Dust off that slow cooker, get some dinner going in it, and snuggle up with this book. It will be the best thing you’ve done for yourself (and your loved ones) and you’ll thank yourself for it.”
